CETL promotes professional development for faculty

Lucy Cromwell, professor of English at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wis., teaches a CETL workshop on “The Importance of Effective Teaching.”

After nearly a year in existence, the center has established a solid foundation of activities and looks forward to continued growth.

Through collaboration among the Office of Academic Affairs, the Faculty Organization’s Faculty Development Committee and FACET members, the center opened in the spring of 2002 on the third floor of the Library Conference Center, and the current director is Charlotte Reed.

Tim Sutherland, associate librarian, chair of the Faculty Organization’s Faculty Development Committee and member of the CETL steering committee, said he can remember when the faculty organization committee held brown bag sessions, which were helpful, but there was a feeling it wasn’t enough. He said the committee eventually learned other IU campuses were developing more formalized programs and began the process themselves.

So far, CETL has offered workshops on problem-based learning techniques, Oncourse technology, the importance of effective teaching and creating Web pages. Reed said the office has a small library of reference books and journal articles relating to planning courses and professional development. The center also has developed a finals’ week support program.

During that hectic time, professors retreat to private offices in the library to grade papers, and refreshments are provided.

“We want faculty to know that we appreciate their needs and want them to feel like they are treated with respect. We have more plans in the works for faculty appreciation events, but finals’ week support is a good start,” Reed said.

Although there is at least one event per month, the center has plans to develop more activities, such as welcoming new faculty and open to the public panel discussions. Through the IU Northwest calendar and the CETL Web site, faculty can find out more about upcoming events. Reed said that soon, participants would be able to register for workshops through the Web site.

Despite its heavy promotion of events, the center has had a rough start with attendance. Linda Delunas, professor of nursing, recently hosted a session on using Oncourse technology.

“I really feel this is a valuable resource for faculty to improve their teaching techniques, to try new things, to hear about new technology. This center came from a faculty desire for these types of programs, and it’s disappointing when we have low attendance at a workshop,” she said.

Sutherland said he expects to see an improvement in attendance as the center grows.

“It’s in a transition from really nothing to an established facility. Once we offer more formal programs, have more workshops and focus on instructional technology, we should see some sort of improvement. Also, we plan to visit other centers in the IU system and see what they are doing as far as promotion and growth,” Sutherland said.